Born in Quickwood, on the Saddleworth/Mossley border, baptised on the 19th December 1862 at Saddleworth Church.

He was the eldest of twelve children, his parents were Joseph and Martha Knight, in 1783 Joseph moved his family to Lydgate.

Served an apprenticeship as a handloom weaver in Saddleworth.

He managed to keep a reasonable living at his trade but was angry over
the lack of his political rights.

John married in 1786 to Elizabeth Andrew and they went to live her
parents at Little Haigh farm on Quickedge Road, Lydgate. The
couple had six children, five boys and a girl.

His views on parliamentary reform caused him to be arrested and sent to
prison for two years for making a seditious speech at Royton.

Weavers were having a tough time in making a living wage due to the
coming of steam Textile factories.

John arranged a meeting for weavers in Manchester 1812, to discuss
their plight and want to do next? At the end of the meeting John
and 37 other weavers were arrested and all charged with plotting to
destroy steam looms and attending a seditions meeting. All 38
were acquitted.

Later that year he give up weaving and took up
teaching.

In 1816 he edited the Manchester Political Register and secretary of
the Manchester Constitutional Society. In Later life he became an
extensive dealer in political publications. About six months
before his death he was appointed Treasurer of the poor rates of Oldham.

It the time of his death he was living on Lord Street, Oldham his wife died in 1824.